WELCOME TO WAVERLEY ROAD
ADDRESS
The Clubhouse, Waverley Road, Kettering NN15 6NT
OFFICE OPENING HOURS
Mon- Fri 9am - 1pm
CONTACT US
T: 01536 485588
E: info@ketteringrugbyclub.com
STAFF DIRECTORY
PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF RUGBY
Peter May
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Steve Wilson
HON SECRETARY
Mark Byers
HON TREASURER
Jon Stables
FXTURE SECRETARY
Peter May
FACILITIES MANAGER
Steve Wilson
CLUB ADMINISTRATOR
Clare Warren
MINI/JUNIOR CHAIRMAN
Liam Noble
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH RUGBY
Gary Chambers
YOUTH HEAD COACH
Michael Rawlings
HEAD OF GIRLS RUGBY
Steve Love
REFEREE CO-ORDINATOR
Peter May
Dickie Heath
HEAD COACH
Graham Wilson
CLUB & 1st XV CAPTAIN
Josh Cox
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Helen Bridgeman
VP’S MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Bob Wheeler
SAFEGUARDING OFFICER CLUB SHOP
Rebecca Horne
DISCIPLINARY OFFICER
Mark Byers
As always we offer a warm welcome to our match officials today.
Clare Warren
It’s possible you won’t agree with every decision they make during the course of the game, but please remember this is Rugby Union, not Association Football – if you’re the type who enjoys berating or even abusing officials, I would respectfully suggest this is not the place for you.
Please respect the match officials.
WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT
Club Presidents before me have said that the ‘Old Players Lunch’ is one of their favourite days of the season, and I am sure I am going to be no exception. On a day where some of my old team mates, players I have refereed and coached return for the afternoon and make me feel very proud
of our great Club.
It is also always a pleasure to welcome Peterborough Rugby Club, their officials, players and supporters to Waverley Road and I am sure most of the Kettering players in the room today will have played against our visitors at some time or other in their illustrious past. We also have one of biggest supporters and partners lunching today and it is always a pleasure to welcome Neil Etheridge and Aaron Tawney to the Club, thank you again for your continued support of Kettering Rugby Club.
I also would like to give a huge Kettering Rugby Club welcome to some of the players from Texas who the Club met in the early eighties as Kettering toured the USA and they, in turn, visited us here. Great friendships were made and these friendships have now endured for over 40 years, unfortunately we have lost some of those great tourists, but we will always remember them.
Both Peterborough and ourselves have not started the season as well as we might have hoped, and both of us certainly having disappointing results last weekend. But I do know the Kettering boys are all straining to build on last year's 5th place finish and I hope today sees a step up in our organization and commitment in order for them to fulfil their ambition!
On behalf of everyone at the Club can I say a big thank you to all the Match Officials who will come to Kettering this year. Without you there is no game, and we greatly appreciate your efforts.
Finally, to our fans, undoubtedly some of the best in the league, have a great season home and away and, as ever: Be Loud, Be Proud and Be Respectful
Peter May – President, Kettering Rugby Club
THE DUGOUT
warm welcome all to Waverley Road especially our
Our opponents today find themselves in a similar situation to us at the wrong end of the table and I’m sure
The lads continue to work hard off the field and let’s hope we reap the rewards of that today. Catch you in
KRFC COMMUNITY CORNER
A Warm Welcome to Old Friends!
Today we welcome all ouir past players a also a few friends of old, from Baylor Strikes. A team faced by Kettering in the early 80s on their tour of America and also on home turf at Waverly Road. Below are some images from days yonder and an extract from the evening times published upon the return of teams trip abroad.
Kettering’s tour party arrived back from Texas with a 50-50 playing record and amazed at the make-up of the opposition encountered.
Imported players — particularly New Zealanders — figured everywhere, and particularly the State side which handed out a 21-9 beating to the tourists.
“There were five from New Zealand in the team and all a good standard,” said Kettering skipper Trevor Harden, a veteran of the club’s first visit to America. “We were told that they are paid to go over and play there to help the club come along. ”The matches were all difficult and we picked up a lot of minor injuries, but it was a good tour and we made sure that we saw more of the country this time.”
The senior XV opened with a 6-3 victory over a strengthened Harts side, Roy Greer kicking two penalties, while the seconds lost 12-9 to the Old Tin Cans. Barry Jacobs landed three penalties.
After a 180 mile coach trip both teams lost at Austin — on a pitch of thistles and in temperatures of 85 degrees — by margins of 33-10 (Roy Greer try and two penalties).
The next fixtures were cancelled when a coach breakdown 120 miles from Huston left the party stranded for six hours in the bar of a garage until replacement transport arrived.
Then came the Texas game with Roy Greer converting a try from Hayden Evans and kicking a penalty, Dave Newman winning the ‘man of the Match’ award, and Greer (collarbone), Guy Veall (ankle) and Geoff Wright (knee ligaments) all collecting knocks. The match was played on a covered American Football pitch, 130 yards long, and the injuries left Kettering one shirt for the last 20 minuets.
The seconds beat Baylor Strikers 12-9 and then finished with a 37-13 result against Jacksonville, while the firsts beat New Orleans 33-15. Brown (2), Dougie Bridgeman, Liam O’Mally, Dave Cooper and Mark Mcmillan scored tries, with Bridgeman adding a penalty to three conversions.
INTRODUCING THE TEAM
There are currently 27 lads registered to play for the 2024/2025 season. The majority of whom have been in the team since Mini’s.
We have Adam, Ano, Ben, Brendan, Charlie, Connor, Ewan, Finlay, Gavin, George, Harry B, and Harry J. Haydn, Jack, Jackson, Jared, Joe, Matty, Morgan, Pacey, Pharis, Sam, Tim, Will B, Will M-R, Willoughby and we welcome Will L to the team this season.
We were recently super proud of Ewan, Jack, Jared, Haydn and Will B for putting in a fantastic effort at the Saints trails having enjoyed a great season with U15s there. Ano also attended to show off his qualities as a Rugby player. It was a tough trail as essentially two development centre’s were reduced to one, the weather certainly added additional complexities.
We congratulate and wish Ewan Neeson, all the very best as he was accepted into Northampton Saints foundation Under 16’s programme.
Last season we also had players representing East Northants rugby team (Adam, Ano, Ben, Connor, Gavin, George, Pharis and Willoughby) we look forward to trailing for this season and expanding the boys experience in representative rugby.
PASSION AND DRIVE...
The team are coached by Paul Neeson, Ben Watts, Matt Sandy, Martin Young, Richard Campbell and Clive Mutemasango.
We train midweek Tuesdays and Thursdays alongside the Colts expanding on the skills and drills.
Certainly, a team to watch, we have some great players who have a dream … Aiming to be the 1%’s.
Meanwhile others come for the friendships and laughs, the fitness goals and community spirit, to representing their local team. #Blues.
REGIONAL 2 MIDLANDS EAST LEAGUE TABLE
WHATS ON AT KRFC UPCOMING EVENTS
JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS AT KRFC
With the festive season fast approaching we're getting ready to celebrate with events for your calendar to see out the year with festive cheer.
11th December
Christmas Carol Shouting
17th & 19th December
KRFC Christmas Party Nights
21st December
Christmas Jumper Night
BRING IN THE NEW YEAR AT KRFC
A time to reflect on the year and usher in the next! Join us at KRFC to celebrate the end of a year and start of another with a party like no other! Join us at the clubhouse for a glass of fizz (or two) on the 31st December for our annual New Year's Eve Party
31st December
New Year's Eve Party
